Metrc (Minnesota) published Support Bulletin MN_IB_0057 to announce new Metrc Location Types available starting 02/02/2026. This article explains what changed, which location types apply to each Minnesota license type, and what operators should do in Metrc to keep inventory, quarantine, waste, and sampling workflows compliant.
Bulletin summary: what changed in Metrc
Bulletin number: MN_IB_0057
Distribution date: 02/02/2026
Effective date: 02/02/2026
Subject: Location Types Updates
Reason: Metrc and the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management added new standardized Location Types for industry use within Metrc.
Why Location Types matter for Minnesota compliance
In Metrc, Locations are more than a facility map—they help document where regulated cannabis activity occurs (cultivation, post-harvest handling, manufacturing steps, storage, sampling, quarantine, and waste). Using the right Location Type improves day-to-day accuracy in transfers between rooms/areas, supports defensible audit trails, and reduces the risk of inventory being stored or handled in a way that conflicts with internal SOPs or state expectations.
Practically, these updates mean teams should review their existing Location setup and align each physical area (and any required “virtual” areas like quarantine, waste, and samples) to the closest available Location Type so that Metrc activity matches real facility operations.
Cultivation: new and updated Metrc Location Types
Indoor: A fully enclosed cultivation space using artificial lighting and environmental systems for consistent, year-round production.
Outdoor: An open-air, outdoor cultivation area where plants grow in natural sunlight and seasonal conditions.
Greenhouse: A semi-controlled cultivation structure using natural sunlight with supplemental lighting and climate systems.
Processing (trimming, drying, curing): A post-harvest area where cannabis is trimmed, dried, and cured to prepare it for packaging, sale, or further manufacturing.
Freezer: A temperature-controlled area or walk-in freezer where freshly harvested cannabis is immediately frozen.
Storage Vault: An area where cannabis or cannabis products are stored after processing.
Retention Sample: An area where retention samples are stored until 6 months after the expiration or best used by date of a product has passed.
Waste: A designated area where cannabis waste—plant material, expired products, or unusable materials—is held, rendered unusable, and prepared for compliant disposal.
Quarantine: A restricted storage area where cannabis or materials are held and prevented from use or sale during administrative hold, recall, or until issue resolution is complete.
Default: A general-purpose classification or location used when an item does not yet fit into a specific category or has not been assigned to its proper area.
Manufacturing: new and updated Metrc Location Types
Input/Raw Material Storage: An area for storing incoming cannabis biomass, ingredients, and packaging materials prior to processing.
Processing Room (concentration, extraction, combination): A designated production space where cannabis is extracted, concentrated, refined, or combined with other ingredients to create finished products.
Final Product Storage: An area where completed cannabis products are held before packaging, testing, or distribution.
Retention Sample: An area where retention samples are stored until 6 months after the expiration or best used by date of a product has passed.
Waste: A designated area where cannabis waste—plant material, expired products, or unusable materials—is held, rendered unusable, and prepared for compliant disposal.
Quarantine: A restricted storage area where cannabis or materials are held and prevented from use or sale during administrative hold, recall, or until issue resolution is complete.
Default: A general-purpose classification or location used when an item does not yet fit into a specific category or has not been assigned to its proper area.
Retail: new and updated Metrc Location Types
Inventory/Stockroom: An area where cannabis products and supplies are stored, organized, and tracked before being moved to the sales floor.
Sales floor/Shelf: The customer-accessible area where cannabis products are displayed and made available for purchase.
Retail Samples: An area where designated sample products are stored.
Event – Virtual: A virtual room to hold products that are brought to licensed cannabis events.
Waste: A designated area where cannabis waste—plant material, expired products, or unusable materials—is held, rendered unusable, and prepared for compliant disposal.
Quarantine: A restricted storage area where cannabis or materials are held and prevented from use or sale during administrative hold, recall, or until issue resolution is complete.
Default: A general-purpose classification or location used when an item does not yet fit into a specific category or has not been assigned to its proper area.
Testing facilities: new and updated Metrc Location Types
Stability Sample: An area to store lab test samples that will be used for stability studies.
Waste: A designated area where cannabis waste—plant material, expired products, or unusable materials—is held, rendered unusable, and prepared for compliant disposal.
Quarantine: A restricted storage area where cannabis or materials are held and prevented from use or sale during administrative hold, recall, or until issue resolution is complete.
Default: A general-purpose classification or location used when an item does not yet fit into a specific category or has not been assigned to its proper area.
Operational implications: what teams should do on and after 02/02/2026
After these Location Types become available, operators should standardize their facility setup so staff select the correct location during routine Metrc actions (receiving, moving inventory, post-harvest processing, manufacturing steps, sample storage, quarantines, and waste staging). When Location Types match real-world workflows, it becomes easier to train staff, troubleshoot inventory discrepancies, and demonstrate control of restricted product (especially in Quarantine, Waste, and sample areas).
For multi-department facilities, alignment also reduces handoff errors—for example, moving material from cultivation processing to manufacturing input storage, or from final product storage to retail stockroom—because the purpose of each area is unambiguous in Metrc.
How to add or update Locations in Metrc
Metrc’s guidance for adding Locations is available inside the Metrc Expert widget. In Metrc, open the widget and follow: Explore Guides & Resources > Understanding Metrc Functionality > Admin > Locations > Add a New Location.
When updating an existing facility, consider naming conventions that match signage in the facility (for example: “Vault A”, “Quarantine Cage”, “Dry Room 1”) while selecting the most accurate Location Type from the new Minnesota options.
Labeling and system accuracy: Metrc Retail ID readiness
Location accuracy and label accuracy work together—especially for retail operations where products must be correctly identified and traceable. DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels, and it can help teams stay consistent with Metrc Retail ID requirements by producing standardized, scannable labels that match inventory records.
For larger Minnesota operators managing cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail in one connected supply chain, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform built for end-to-end operations, including inventory control, order workflows, and broader compliance process management alongside Metrc reporting.
Metrc support and training resources (Minnesota)
Contact Metrc Support
Access the Metrc support portal at https://support.metrc.com. You can also click Support inside the Metrc system to be redirected to the portal. First-time portal access requires a username (created when logging in), the correct state selection, your facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn training
Metrc Learn provides interactive training on system functionality to build user skillsets and improve workflow efficiency. You can register from within Metrc by opening the Support drop-down in the navigation toolbar and selecting Sign up for Training, or access the platform directly at https://learn.metrc.com (bookmark this updated link).
Metrc Expert knowledge base
In Metrc, click the widget icon in the lower right to open Metrc Expert and search guidance for Locations, room setup, and other Minnesota workflows impacted by the new Location Types.
